Because we love ‘em all. Here’s your 90’s Video of the Day
Gin Blossoms - Hey Jealousy
Doug Hopkins, who was the song’s mastermind and writer was kicked out of the band before they ever became a mainstream success in 1992 with the album New Miserable Experience. It was a story not uncommon in rock, in which a major label deal and the pressures that come with it, start to send a band or individual members into combustion mode. (The label also held Doug's money hostage until he agreed to split with half of his publishing and all mechanical royalty rights). Sadly Doug died by suicide in 1993, and it furthermore solidifies this intangible yet understood truth about the Gin Blossoms; these are the happiest, saddest songs you’ve ever heard.
Their record didn’t do much when it was initially released but someone at the label really thought it was worth giving the band just one more push before calling it a bust. They made not one, but THREE attempts at a video for the song, with a grand total upwards of $50,000 by the end of it. The impulse to push the band was correct as New Miserable Experience ended up with four charting tracks, eventually going quadruple platinum.
I really need you to hear this original 1989 version of the song which appears on Dusted which gives the band even more of a punk-Replacements-esque vibe instead of the extremely polished, jangly jam you’ve come to know and love. I don’t want to re-write anyone’s history here, but damn if this band kept this vibe, they’d have hit my collection a lot sooner.
Hit me up with 90’s Video’s you wanna see featured at abby@wxdx.com
Here's that original version too.